ABSTRACT
Home improvement is a high priority for many retired people, but older consumers rarely feature in the magazine and TV programmes that specialise in the subject. This chapter is based on the results of a two year research project “Home Improvements for Independent Living”, carried out through the Helen Hamlyn Research Centre, based at the Royal College of Art and jointly sponsored by the Centre and the Lifespan Trust. A proportion of householders denied that the issues raised during observation were a problem. Candidates felt that some of the theoretical design suggestions made would be helpful to them however, when questioned on whether they would go ahead and implement the changes in their own homes, there was a marked age related difference in the response, unrelated to affordability. The householders were at initially curious about the designs presented to them but they were unanimously defensive of any observed behaviour identified during the research.
